Many plants produce nectar outside of flowers, in extrafloral nectaries, which can be found at the base of leaves, on stems or the underside of flowers. The plants share their sugary exudate with the ants in return for protection from insect predators or larger herbivores. In essence, the ants are bodyguards paid in nectar. This is a fine example of plant-ant mutualism. Peony flower (Paeonia sp., Paeoniaceae) buds produce nectar in this fashion and attract ants in large numbers. The ants are not hurting the flower, in fact, they are protecting the plant from insect damage, thus leaving it more beautiful in the garden!
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